The simple task of meeting for the football game and
entering and departing the field can present a world of confusion and
disorganization if you have not laid good plans with your team. As a
director, at the beginning of the football season when preparing for
performances, you would do an informal rehearsal at the stadium of exactly the
course of actions to be taken before, during and after the game. It is
impossible for the new members to know what to do for that first game.
This rehearsal can make the entire team feel much more confident if there is
less confusion about all of the actual game procedures.

Here are a few tips to make each game event go
smoother:

CHECKLIST--
Make a checklist of everything that each team member should remember to
bring to each game. This can be posted at home on the refrigerator or
in her room.

TIME SCHEDULE--
give an exact meeting time and place for game departures on the bus or to
meet at the stadium. Consider tardies as you would in class and render
demerits or points off their grade. Do not enter the stands until all
team members have arrived.

ENTERING THE
STADIUM-- Enter in their squad or rank order so that the team
will enter the stands in an orderly fashion. You can even go so far as
indicate which hand their drill team bag should be carried. Wait until
all members are standing in their spot, then be seated together.

PRE-HALFTIME--
When you leave the stands to stretch after the beginning of the 2nd quarter,
make sure to leave the stands looking orderly. Have the girls place
their bags under their seats and fold any blankets. Also, you should
have a parent, manager or ROTC member to watch and guard their valuables
left in the stands. Do not stretch where the audience can see. Find a
place where you can stretch in private and conduct your last 'words of
wisdom' and drill team circle in private. When taking their
place on the field, have them stand to the side of the players and action
until the last second has ticked off the clock, then line up for their
entrance on the sidelines. You do not want any girls to be injured by
any play still taking place on the field. A nice, uniform look would
be to stand in a "tight" line (B to B). During the visiting
team's performance, return to the tight line or formation to watch
respectfully.

HALFTIME--
Make sure that each girl knows her exact yard line and has taken the time to
spot it from the stands as well as in her waiting position at the side of
the field. This will insure perfect spacing every time. Many
teams use a traditional piece of music to enter the field as well as a
standardized method to enter and exit the field for every performance.
This saves a great deal of extra time and preparation as well as generating
a "trademark" for your team.

POST HALFTIME--
The
team should re-enter the stands in an orderly fashion in an "at
ease" manner and go directly to their ranks. This is the time
that you are proud of them no matter what and they will be awaiting your
response.

SECOND HALF--
Refreshments should be served during the 3rd quarter and allow the girls a
chance to relax although it is not advisable to allow them freedom to
roam the stands during any part of the game. Part of their
responsibility is to support the team and they have already been absent for
part of the 2nd quarter to stretch. If it is your tradition and you are the
home team, the officers may go to the visiting team and welcome them to your
stadium. Some groups will offer cookies, treats or possibly a video of
their halftime as a gift.

POST GAME--
If your team is allowed to take the field for a victory line, make sure that
you have rehearsed this ahead of time. The last thing should be a
'team meeting' to summarize their preparation needs for the following Monday
as well as a synopsis of the game and halftime. Your feedback to the
team is most important and this will also allow the stands to clear a little
before your departure. If you are away, you should leave the stands
clean and in order. If you are at home and the girls have their own
transportation, they can be dismissed from the stands. Make sure that the
girls know to change out of their uniform immediately before going anywhere
but home. Pizza and ketchup stains can ruin a uniform in a hurry.